Parasol c. 1941

Lillian Causey made this drawing of a parasol out of graphite and watercolor; the date is unknown. The overall effect is delicate, achieved through a meticulous process, but look closely and you can see how the graphite marks and watercolor washes work together to create texture. Where the point of the graphite is almost stippled to create the lace effect. I think what strikes me most about this drawing is the way Causey revels in the details, yet never gets bogged down in them. There’s a lightness of touch here that speaks to a real understanding of the material, and it’s also a reminder that art-making is as much about editing and simplifying as it is about adding and complicating. Like Eva Hesse, Causey understands the power of repetition and accumulation but never loses sight of the overall composition.